Christmas has already come to Hongkong. Even if the shops were not making their bids for holiday trade, by means of all the wiles known to modern commerce, there would be Ino doubt about the season. "A warm interval, after a misplaced cold snap, /nas brought out poinsettias in all their velvet glory. "And the children's [Christmas pantomime has already delighted ore houseful of jubilant spectators.
adding", whose fortunes Mrs. O. Io. Womack has portrayed in nine ich and exotic scenes, will run for two additional matinee performances Jat the Helena May Institute, Children jand grown-ups alike are responding to the gaiety and mirth of the show: their Little squeals of delighted laughter punctuate every scene, and Jalmost every episode.
Only Mrs. Womack, who possesses the unique talent of moulding into Ishape the efforts of a large group of performers, doing no small part of the singing and dancing herself, could assemble such a cast. Mr. JOscar Eager, who collaborated with [Mrs. Womack in producing the 1934 pantomime, plays the part JAbdullah, @ silk merchant, with his usual wit' and skill. Children know that when Mr. Eager appears they will see more than a clown; more than a funny man. And he rewards them this time with some new songs land dances.
Miss Evelyn Gray appears with Mr. Eager in some of his best hits.
Aladdin's mother she has some {good bits, and even manages a little Fomance of her own while the hero is out winning his princess.
Miss Margaret King plays the part Jof the youthful Aladdin, bent on making the Caliph's daughter, Miss Biddy Reiss, "his bride. Mr.' Jack [Crenham fs Abu Al Bogus, a magic-fan of.sorts, who really starts the [play on its romantic course. display, and Miss B. M. Bicheno is at the piano, ably accompanying the varied exploits of as richly garbed a jerew as have trod the local stage, many a day.
Thus has Christmas descended upon Hongkong, in a rainbow maze of lustrous silks and jewelled trees and red pavilions, before which Ait a troup of jolly players who clearly. enjoy their two hours traffic of the stage, From Bazaar to Local Bazaar There is another side to the celebration of Christmas in. Hongkong, tone toward which schools. and Jchurches work all during the season, Although there have been bazaars and sales of work all the autumn, three especially significant ones took. place last week. Not only do patrons Jof these bazaars have an opportunity to lay in a store of articles for every~ day use and for Christmas, too, but they take part in the larger scheme of the church as regards mission oF general benevolent work.
On Saturday the garden of the Bishop's house on Pedder Hill early resembled very gay fair grounds, for local Diocesan workers, from both Anglican and Chinese churches, were putting forth their greatest effort on behalf of church work up-country.
Mrs. Barrett, wite of His Excellency, the General' Officer Commanding, opened the bazaar early Saturday morning, which was a signal for brisk activity at the various stalls. Eight
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.